Proposition 54 will ensure Legislature works for voters

Cyclists pass the state Capitol as they begin the final stage of the Tour of California cycling race Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Cyclists pass the state Capitol as they begin the final stage of the Tour of California cycling race Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) (The Associated Press)

By Jeanne Brown

It may come as a surprise that California’s laws often result from backroom deals on legislation that is rewritten at the last minute by insiders and special interests and passed late at night before most legislators and the public have the opportunity to even read the language — but it’s true.

This tactic, which includes “gut-and-amend” bills that have their contents completely replaced by something unrelated to their original subject, is common practice in Sacramento. Last-minute gut-and-amends have resulted in laws later found to be unconstitutional, revised taxes for multibillion-dollar industries literally overnight and spent millions from the state budget without fiscal analysis.

This November, voters will finally have the opportunity to stop this nonsense and create greater transparency in Sacramento by voting yes on Proposition 54, a ballot initiative that will amend the state Constitution to ensure the Legislature works for voters, not special interests.

Proposition 54 will put an end to last-minute gut-and-amends by requiring that all bills be published in print and posted online in their final form at least 72 hours before a final vote in either house of the Legislature.

This way, every proposed law will be equally accessible to all citizens, so that the resulting policies benefit all of us, not just a select few powerful interest groups.

Proposition 54 further increases transparency by requiring that all open legislative meetings be video recorded and posted online within 24 hours, so people can see how a law was enacted, or blocked. The cost to implement these changes would be minor and would not require new taxes.

Proposition 54 will also give people the right to make their own audiovisual recordings of public meetings of the Legislature to use for any legitimate purpose. The public is currently prohibited from making such recordings, even though this right is guaranteed for every public meeting of local governments and state boards and commissions in California. Shouldn’t the state Legislature be held to the same standards?

The League of Women Voters of California believes it should be, so that legislative proceedings are conducted fairly and openly. We are part of a large and diverse coalition of well-respected good government, minority, taxpayer, small business, and seniors groups representing voters from every walk of life, working together so the public may more fully participate in the political process.

Don’t be fooled by the small handful of Proposition 54 opponents and one political operative who believe the public’s business can only be conducted under a veil of secrecy. With so many trusted organizations from across the political spectrum supporting Proposition 54 — including California Common Cause, California Chamber of Commerce, League of California Cities, Planning and Conservation League, California State Conference of the NAACP, Latin Business Association, California Senior Advocates League, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and many others — voters can be confident that a yes vote on Prop 54 on November 8 will finally shed daylight on the legislative process and give voters a voice in Sacramento.

Brown is president of the League of Women Voters of San Diego and a League of Women Voters of California board member.